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Bachelor's Degree

Dental Hygiene Bridge Program
Go from AS to BS Online

Program Length

12 Mo.

Credits

120

Format

Online

Cost per Credit

$515
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Bridge to a bachelor’s in dental hygiene in as little as 1 year

AccreditationAccredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Transfer creditUp to 90 approved credits
FormatOffered online through our campus in Minneapolis, Minnesota; students must be a resident of Minnesota
EligibilityBuilt for licensed dental hygienists who hold a CODA accredited associate degree in dental hygiene
QuickPathsTransfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University

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Available at the Minneapolis campus only

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St. Louis Park, MN 55426

 

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene - Bridge

The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene - Bridge degree is a 120-hour undergraduate program which prepares you to advance your degree and practice as a dental hygienist. 

The bridge program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in dental hygiene research, technology in dental hygiene, contemporary issues in dental hygiene, and much more.

Ranked #2 Best Health Care Support Jobs of 2023 by U.S. News & World Report

A Herzing University graduate receiving her diploma alongside a faculty member during a commencement ceremony, symbolizing academic excellence.

  • Career-focused curriculum

    Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.

  • Flexible schedule

    We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.

  • Virtual services

    Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.

  • Lifelong support

    We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.

  • Rolling admissions

    No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.

Curriculum

Dental Hygiene bridge program classes & curriculum details

The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene – Bridge program is open to licensed dental hygienists who have completed an associate degree in dental hygiene from a CODA accredited program. Students must be a Minnesota resident and maintain Minnesota residency throughout the program.

The goal of the program is to prepare students with the knowledge and higher-level skills to effectively lead, manage, and teach in the dental hygiene profession. The curriculum gives students a path from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree by completing the equivalent of one additional year of advanced curriculum. Students can choose to complete a practicum in dental hygiene education or clinical practice management.

Both required dental hygiene courses and general education courses are delivered online.

ProgramMonths iCredit
Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene - Bridge1647

iAverage number of months for students to complete program

Required Courses in Dental Hygiene

All courses, 15.00 semester credit hours, are required.

This course is designed as an introduction to the role of evidence-based dentistry (EBD) and research. The two goals of this course are: 1) to develop skills in the scientific methods of research in an effort to develop evidence-based decision making for optimal patient care; and 2) to develop skills needed to critically assess current and relevant scientific literature in relation to research design and principles for individual patient care needs. To make this learning more meaningful, students will apply the knowledge gained to patient care.

This course focuses on cultural diversity and how to begin the journey of becoming culturally competent in our society. It examines our own cultural beliefs, values, and practices and other cultures in the dental healthcare system. This course will teach the student how to develop cultural competence by acquiring the ability to provide care to patients with diverse backgrounds, values, beliefs, and behaviors, including tailoring delivery of care to meet patients' social, cultural, and linguistic needs. The course is also designed to understand the concept of culture and the hygienist's cultural awareness of the relationships between Westernized medicine and traditional health practices and recognition of selected cultures within the United States. Providing quality patient care through understanding cultural differences will be explored.

This course focuses on exploring the various diagnostic, therapeutic, and educational uses of technology in dental hygiene. These technologies include digital radiographs, intra-oral images, automatic probes, and lasers used in dentistry. This course will show dental hygienists how to enhance their oral hygiene instructions with the use of technology.

Leadership is an essential part of the oral health profession, and developing leadership skills is a multifaceted undertaking. This course provides the students with the opportunity to explore the leadership theories, styles, behaviors, and attitudes that enhance the delivery of patient care and professional success. Specific content includes comparing and contrasting leadership and management, personal philosophy development, dental hygiene mentorship, strategic planning, shared governance, interdisciplinary collaboration, political action, professional and team development, and healthcare trends. This course will empower the student to take charge of their career and leadership potential.

This course examines current societal and professional issues and their impact on dental hygiene practice. Topics include, but are not limited to, advanced practice models to expand oral health services, counseling regarding smoking cessation, recent medical advances in the field of dentistry, and legal policy issues currently impacting dental hygiene.

This capstone course is designed to provide students an opportunity to synthesize, analyze, and apply their knowledge and skills through the design, implementation, and completion of a senior capstone. The student will create a paper or project that reflects comprehensive knowledge and ability to reflect, connect, and then produce work based on their learning experiences throughout the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program.

Elective Courses in Dental Hygiene

3.00 semester credit hours are required.

This course examines educational theories, methodology, assessment, and competency-based education in dental hygiene. Specific topics include didactic instructional methodologies, clinical instructional methodologies, lesson planning, and formative and summative evaluation.  Students must perform a minimum of 22.5 hours of teaching observations.

This course examines elements needed to manage a successful clinical practice. Specific topics include finance for the dental clinic, marketing, human resource management and development, technology and the dental clinic, and theories of organizational management.  Students will be required to observe a dental office manager for a minimum of 22.5 hours.

Required Courses in Programmatic Support

13.00 semester credit hours are required.

This course focuses on the links that exist among strategy, organizational design, behavior, and human resource management in the healthcare environment. Students will learn about diversity, recruiting and retaining staff, job analysis, training and development, leadership development, physician practice management, medical staff relations, and labor relations.

The course will emphasize both legal questions and ethical considerations in the modern medical organization. Contracts and physician patient relationships will be addressed. Legal proceedings, such as interrogatories and depositions, will be described. In the area of medical ethics, the issues of patient confidentiality and standards will be addressed.

This course is designed to provide a forum for the contemporary issues related to healthcare. Improving access, ensuring quality, and controlling costs are addressed.

This course introduces benchmark leadership and management skills needed in today's health care organizations. Key topics include: leadership practices, human resource management, strategic planning, systems management, quality improvement, and professional communication and ethics.

This course is designed to introduce students to methodologies that will prepare them for academic and professional success.  Topics include but are not limited to Canvas support, student support services, e-books, university policies, resumes, self-reflection, time management, goal setting, and strategies for anxiety reduction.

This course provides an opportunity for students to critically examine their skills and develop a plan to further their career and own financial literacy. Topics include research, job searching, developing career documents, refining interview and communication skills, and creating a personal budget.

Required Courses in General Education

Students enrolled in this bachelor's degree program must complete the following 12 semester credit hours.

This course requires students to analyze discourse communities, execute a well-designed academic research project, apply reading strategies to academic texts, and use texts as models for writing.  Analyzing discourse communities involves identifying how communication conventions change in different contexts.  Designing and executing an academic research project involves formulating research questions, conducting primary and/or secondary research, synthesizing ideas from multiple sources, discussing findings, and presenting the results in APA format.  Applying reading strategies to academic texts involves using a process for reading, identifying text features, evaluating sources, and organizing reading notes.  Using texts as models for writing involves analyzing and imitating the scope, structure, methods, use of evidence, and tone common to academic writing.

This course builds on Introduction to Humanities and continues exploring how visual art, philosophy, music, religion, literature, and modern popular culture influence the formation of the individual and the cultural beliefs and social values evident in the world around us.  Students will use analysis skills to examine artifacts of popular culture from multiple perspectives, including examples from among these possible areas of analysis: social media and cyber-culture, popular music, contemporary literature, film, television, magazines, videos, advertising, and graphic novels.

This course presents the study of basic statistical theory and concepts. Topics include statistical probabilities, measures of central tendency, measures of variation, hypothesis testing, regression, and correlation.

This course will examine the influence of technological development on American society. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing political, ethical, religious, social, and intellectual implications of technology. Topics may include technologies related to: energy; environmental degradation; human population growth, warfare and law enforcement; personal privacy; artificial intelligence; medicine and bio-genetic engineering.

Tution & Cost 

Tuition & Cost

The cost of tuition for the Dental Hygiene Bridge program is $515 per credit.

You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.

Our goal is your career advancement. That's why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.

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  • Scholarships & Financial Aid

    You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants—including our Nurses Circle of Achievement scholarship, which offers up to 10% tuition reduction.

    Find scholarships and grants  

  • Military/Veteran Discounts

    Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.

    VA/Military benefits  

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Herzing Dental Hygiene students with their instructor pose for a photograph

Requirements 

Dental Hygiene bachelor's program enrollment requirements

Prerequisites to enroll in the Herzing University Dental Hygiene program include:

  • Completion of a high school diploma, GED or equivalent
  • Meet and interview with a Herzing University admissions advisor
  • Complete an enrollment application

Please contact admissions for more information.

Now enrolling!

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Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene - Bridge Degree Programs / Showing 1 program for the Online campus

  • Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene - Bridge

    Online

    The goal of the dental hygiene program is to prepare students with the knowledge and skills required to manage and maintain a dental clinic, effectively instruct dental hygiene students, and build upon previous learned education in dental hygiene. This program prepares students with the necessary skills and academic knowledge for entry-level leadership opportunities with an emphasis on dental hygiene. It is structured as a "three-plus-one" degree where students who have already completed a typically lengthy associate degree in dental hygiene (in the range of 90 semester credit hours) can top off that degree with an advanced curriculum. Combined, this gives the graduate both the technical grounding in a dental hygiene program (from earlier training in dental hygiene from their associate-level studies) and the higher-level skills to effectively lead, manage, and teach in the dental hygiene profession.

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The Student Experience at Herzing

 I came to Herzing at the age of 23. I wanted to be able to go to school in just 2 years and be done. I knew that I did not want to do hard labor for the rest of my life, but that seemed to be where I was going. I always thought I was not smart enough for the dental hygiene program. However, that was not the case at all. My family, teacher and fellow students were a tremendous support.  I just needed to apply myself at Herzing, and it has paid off. I love it, and I love my job! 

Tommy Mans
Healthcare Student | Minneapolis Campus

I love the dental hygiene program! I have learned so many new things!

Summer
Healthcare Student | Minneapolis Campus
Disclosures

Accreditation & Disclosures

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene-Bridge: The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) does not accredit stand-alone degree-completion (bridge) programs such as the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene-Bridge. The bridge program is available only to students who have already graduated from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program with an associate degree and hold an active license, as well as being in good standing as a dental hygienist. Students must be a Minnesota resident and maintain Minnesota residency throughout the program. (Students are advised to consult with employers of preference as to the importance of accreditation on their hiring decisions.)

Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

View Herzing University Accreditation and Approvals

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Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.

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